Box-making x m machine



C. EIKLER.

BOX MAKING MACHINE.

APPLlCATION FILED JUNE 21. 1915. RENEWED MAY 19.1920.

1,365, 17 1*. Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

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c. EIKLER.

BOX MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED umz 21, 1915. RENEWED MAY I9, 1920.

1,365,471 Patent-ed Jan. 11, 1921.

6 SHEETS-SHEET-2- C. EiKLER.

BOX MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21. I9|5. RENEWED MAY 19.1920. 1,365,471.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

WW WW C. ESKLER.

BOX MAKING IVIACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IUNEZI, 1915. RENEWED MAY 19.1920.

Patent-ed Jan. 11, 1921* 6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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m% w m mmw wu ms Q C. EIKLER.

BOX MAKING MACHSNE.

APPLICATION men JUNEZI, 19:5. RENEWED mm 19, 1920.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921,

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BOX MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IUNEZI, I9I5- RENEWED 'IIIAY I9. I920. 1,365,471.

9 9F. n; '8 mm om 8 d6 6 m )w a P UNITED STATES v PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES EIKLER, OF CI-IIGAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,TO "WIREBOUNDS PATENTS COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., CORPORATION OFMAINE.

BOX-MAKING MACHINE.

Application filed June 21, 1915, Serial No. 35.327.

2" 0 all 107mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES EIKLER, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Box-Making Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

My invention relates to box making machines and particularly to thatclass of machines adapted to form the blank comprising four sides of awire bound box. It is one of the objects of my invention to provide in amachine of this type new and improved means for feeding forward thecleats or strips which make up the frame of the completed box and towhich strips or cleats the thin boards which form the sides of the boxare secured by the use ofmy improved machine. It is one of the objectsof my invention to provide a cleat-feeding device such that-the cleatsshall be fed for-- ward relative to the box blank which is'being formedin proper positlon regardless of the length of the cleat, making itpossible to use the machine for making different sized boxes without anadjustment of the cleat-feeding devices.

It is another object of my invention to n-ovide means for adjusting asdesired the length of stitch employed, that is to say, the length ofbinding wire between adjacent staples by which the binding wire issecured to the boards forming the sides of the box. It is another objectof my invention to provide means by the action of which thestaple-forming mechanism is automatically thrown out of effectiveoperation at every joint between the adjacent cleats of the box blank sothat the machine is prevented from driving a staple into the cleats attheir ends in a position'where the staple might interfere with theproper folding of the blank to form a box. It is another object of myinvention to provide automati cally-acting means adapted to throw out ofeffective operation the staple-forming mech anism at the time when onecompleted box blank is passing out of the machine and just before themachine begins to operate upon the succeeding box blank, whereby nostaples are formed and fed into the machine in conjunction with thelengths of binding Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

Renewed -May 19, 1920. Serial No. 382,691.

wire which extend between the adjacent blanks and which are employed fortying the blanks in box form.

It is another object of my invention to provide means by which thelength of stitch across the board or boards adapted to form one side ofthe box may be automatically varied relative to the length of stitchacross the board forming the adjacent side of the box. As will bereadily understood, it is important for the formation of a strong boxthat a plurality of staples be driven across the board forming each sideof a box. In order to accomplish this result it is necessary that thestitch across the short side of a box be comparatively small. If theadjacent side of the box is comparatively much wider, there is nonecessity for the use of the same short stitch across the wide side ofthe box as was important across the short side. I have, therefore,provided automatically-acting means for lengthening the stitch as thewide side of the box comes into position to he stapled and for againautomatically shortening the stitch as the short side of the box comesinto position to be stapled.

It is another object of my invention to provide new and improved meansfor quicklyand easily adjusting a machine of this type for boxes ofdifferent lengths. It is another object of my invention to improvemachines of this type in sundry details hereinafter pointed out. Thepreferred means by which I have accomplished the several objects of myinvention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and arehereinafter specifically described. That which I believe to be new anddesire to cover by this application is set forth in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side view of the machine embodying my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1, with theupper portion of the mechanism shown at the right of Fig. 1 broken awayfor clearness of illustration;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through one side of. myimproved machine,

being taken substantially on line 3-3 of.

Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section through my improved machine,being taken substantially on line 4- of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a top view of a box blank of the type adapted to be formed bymy im proved machine;

Fig. 6 is a very much enlarged detail, taken substantially on line 66 ofFig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary View, partially. broken away, showing the partillustrated in Fig. 6 as seen from above in said figure;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view, being a longitudinal sect-ion through oneof the dogs by which the cleats or strips are fed into position and arespaced relative to each other, being taken substantially on line 88 ofFig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a view, partly in section, of one of the spacing and feedingdogs, being taken substantially on line 9 9 of Fig. 7

Fig. 10 is a transverse vertical section of the dog shown in Fig. 9,being taken substantially on line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view illustrating in part the means forthrowing out of effective operation the staple-forming mechanism, andillustrating in part the clutch mechanism employed in connection withthe means for varying the length of stitch between adjacent wide andnarrow sides of a box blank;

Fig. 12 is a view showing the means for feeding the staple wire;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail taken substantially on line 1313 of Fig.12;

Figs. 14 and 15 are diagrammatic side views of the mechanism by whichthe length of stitch is varied for the wide and narrow sides of the box,Fig. 14- showing the mechanism in position for a short stitch. and Fig.15 showing the mechanism in position for a comparatively longer stitch;

Figs. 16 and 17 are diagrammatic views showing the variation in thethrow of the pawl which operates the mechanism by which the box blank isfed forward, Fig.

16 illustrating diagrammatically the operation of the mechanism when inthe adjustment shown in Fig. 14, and Fig. 17 illustratingdiagrammatically the operation of the mechanism when in the adjustmentshown in Fig. 15;

Fig. 18 is an end view, as seen from the right in Fig. 1, of themechanism by which the stitch-varying devices are operated;

Fig. 19 is a section taken substantially on line1919 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a section taken substantially on line202O of Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a section taken substantially on line 21-21 of Fig. 19; and

Fig. 22 is a perspective view of the cam device'shown in Fig. 19-forming a part of the clutch device employed in connection with themechanism for varying the length of stitch between the wide and narrowsides of the box blank.

Referring to Fig. 5 of the drawings which illustrates the form of boxblank which my improved machine is designed to form, it will be notedthat the blank is made up of four sections each comprising two cleats orstrips spaced apart and joined by a sheet or board, the four sectionsbeing joined together by binding wires 30 secured to the boards bystaples 31. In the box blank shown, the adjacent sections forming theblank are different in size, the cleats and boards entering into theformation of the wider sections beingindicated by the numerals 32 and33, respectively, and the cleats and boards entering into the formationof the narrower sections being indicated by the numerals 34 and 35,respectively. The staples 31 by which the binding wires 30 at the endsof the sections are secured-to theboards are of a length such as to passwell into the cleats or strips, while the staples 31 by which theintermediate binding wires 30 are secured to the boards are shorter,being adapted to pass through the boards and have their ends offset orclenched.

My improved machine for forming a blank of the general type shown insaid Fig. 5 comprises means for forming and driving the staples 31,together with means for feeding step step into proper position for thestaple drlving operation the elements entering into the formation of theblank. In the embodiment of my invention as illustrated in the drawings,I have employed a main driving shaft so connected up with the operativeparts of the'machine that normally the blank is advanced one step andone row of staples is driven for each complete revolution of the shaft.The arrangement is such that the wire out of which the staples areformed is fed forward during the latter portion of the inoperativestroke of the cross head by which the staple driving devices areoperated, the operation of advancing the staple wire taking only acomparatively small portion of the time of a complete revolution of themain shaft. The arrangement is such that the effective forwardingoperation of the means for advancing the box blank takes up the time ofa half revolution of the main shaft, the blank-forwarding op erationstarting soon after the beginning of the upward inoperative stroke ofthe crosshead by which the staple driving devices are operated, andcontinuing until such crosshead is well started upon its downwardoperative stroke. By this arrangement and timing of the parts, thestaple wire is advanced t0 the staple forming mechanism in ampletime'for the forming and placing in position of a staple and thesubsequent driving of the staple upon the operative downward stroke ofthe cross-head; and the partially-formed blank is advanced into positionto receive a transversely-extending row of staples in due time wellbefore the end of the operative stroke of the cross-head.

In my improved machine,- the elements making up the blank are fedforward by power applied to the cleats or strips 32 34, the bindingwires being pulled forward by reason of their attachment to the cleatsor strips of the blank being formed. At the commencement of theformation of any given blank during the continuous operation of themachine, the binding wires are pulled forward by reason of theirconnection with the previously-formed box blank.

The means for feeding the cleats or strips 32-64: forward at each sideof the machine comprises four dogs or carrier-blocks which are adaptedto be drawn forward by an endless chain, the two chains so providedbeing driven intermittently in unison to provide the proper intermittentforwarding of the dogs. The dogs are moved by the chains beside suitableslideways along which the cleats or strips 3234 are slidable, the dogsserving not only to forward the cleats but also to space the cleatsproperly relative to each other. One of the dogs is of considerablygreater length than the remaining three dogs, the longer dog beingemployed for providing the proper spacing between successively-formedblanks so as to provide proper lengths of binding wire for tyingpurposes for securing the ends of the blank together when folded intobox form. Auxiliary means is provided for carrying the dogs at each sideof the machine from the forward end of the slideway out of positionbetween the cleats with which it has been moving to the rear end of theslideway for spacing and forwarding the corresponding cleats of thenext-succeeding blank. This auxiliary forwarding means in my machinecomprises endless chains driven constantly adapted to carry the dogs ata greater effective speed than that of the blank-forwarding chains, sothat the dogs shall be in proper position at the rear end of theslideway when needed. In the operation of the machine, the slideways arekept filled with cleats in the proper spaced relation. As one of thedogs passes along the slideway actuated by the fast-moving chain so asto leave room in the slideway for the proper cleat or strip 328i, suchcleat or strip is placed by an operator in position in the slideway. Thenextsucceeding dog brought up by the fast-moving chain carries the cleatso placed in the slideway forward into proper spaced relation to thecleat lastpreviously placed in the slideway, these successive operationscontinuing in rotation during the operation of the machine. Thearrangement is such that the fast-moving chains are adapted toautomatically pick up and carry around any one of the dogs soon after itis released from a blank, the connection between the fast-moving chainsand the dog continuing until. the progress of the dog is stopped byreason of the cleat being forwarded thereby being brought into contactwith the slower-moving blank.

ncieiring now to the several figures or the drawings, in whichcorresponding parts are indicated by like reference characters,

36-37 indicate standards joined by heavy cross-bars 3839, the cross-bar39 being preferably adjustable vertically upon the standards in anysuitable manner. Two heavy side-plates Ml-41 are fired at their forwardends upon the cross-bar 39 at one side of the machine, and two similarside plates e2-st3 are slidably mounted at their forward ends upon theheavy cross-bar 39 at the opposite side of the machine, the plates ateach side of the machine being spaced away from each other a shortdistance, as shown in Fig. 6. The rear ends of the plates 4-.04r1 arefixed upon a heavy supporting bar 44 which passes through said plates,and the rear ends of the side-plates 42-43 are slidably mounted uponsaid supporting bar, standards et54i6 being provided for supporting thebar ts at its ends. Two transverse shafts l7-d8 are revolubly mounted inthe plates s O-etl and held against movement transversely of themachine, said shafts having screw-threaded connection with the plates42-463. The said two shafts are connected by means of a sprocket chain49, whereby the are caused to rotate in unison, A crank-handle 50 isadapted to be mounted upon the shaft 4.7 for turning the shafts d748, aswill be readily understood, for-sliding the sideplates 4t2-43 laterallytoward the sideplates l041.

in the construction shown the main drive shaft 51. by which the blankforwarding and staple forming and driving mechanisms are driven isrevolubly mounted between the standards 36 37 near their lower ends.Said shaft 51 is driven by another shaft 52 through the medium ofintermeshing gears 53--54c, the shaft 52- being driven by a motor 55through the medium of intermeshing gears 56-57. A foot lever 58 andsuitable clutch-mechanism of any suitable type are provided forconnecting the gear 53 with the shaft 51.. the arrangement in theconstruc tion shown being such that the gear 53 is adapted to retate theshaft 51 when the lever 58 is held in its lowered position. As will. bereadily understood, when the lever is released the connection betweenthe shaft 51 and the gear 53 is automatically terminated. The shaft 52is provided with speed-changing mechanism of any suitable type locatedin the transmission box 59 whereby the sprocket-wheel 6.) may be drivenat varying speeds relative to the shaft 52. The transmission mechanismin the box 59 is also provided with a suitable disconnecting clutchadapted to be operated through the medium of a rod 61 provided with alever 62 at the rear end of the machine. Inasmuch as these devices arewell understood in the art and form no part of my present invention itis believed to be unnecessary to further describe or illustrate them.

The inner side-plate at each side of the machine has formed integrallywith it two upwardly-extending flanges 63 providing thus a slideway forthe cleats or strips 32- 84. The opposite edges of the side-plates arerabbeted out along their adjacent faces to provide a slide way for thedogs or carrier-blocks 64, plates 65 and 66 being mounted upon the upperand lower edges, respectively, of each of the outer side-plates for thepurpose of preventing the dogs 64 from escaping from their slideways.Mounted upon each of the plates 65 of the outer side-plates are aplurality of brackets 67 which extend inwardly from the plate 65 uponwhich they are mounted, and support upon their inner ends alongitudinallyextending guide rail 68, the inner face of which is invertical alinement with the inner face of the outer flange 63. Each ofthe dogs 64 is provided with a cam lug 69 upon its upper face for thepurpose hereinafter set forth, from the inner face of which lug thereextends inwardly an arm 70 carrying upon its inner end a spacing block71 which is adapted to space adjacent strips 32-34 from each other, asis clearly shown in Fig. 7.

Adjustably mounted upon the rear end of each of the outer side plates isan extension plate 72 upon which is revolubly mounted a drum 7 Theperiphery of the drum 73 is provided with a suitable circumferentialgroove through which the dogs 64 are adapted to pass, being held inposition in the groove of the drum by means of a circular flange 74formed on the plate 72 about the drum 73. The drum 73 and flange 74serve thus to connect the upper slideway provided by the side-plates forthe dog 64 with the similarly-formed slideways in their lower edges.Extension-plates 75 are connected with the outer side-plates 40 at theirforward ends, the plates 75 having drums 76 revolubly mounted thereon.The drums 76 are likewise provided with circumferential grooves adaptedto provide a path for the dog 64 from the upper slideway to the lowerslideway at the forward end of the machine, the plate 75 being providedwith flanges 77 for retaining the dogs in position in their movementabout the drum.

For carrying the dogs 64 about the endless slideway thus provided I haveprovided two pairs of fast-moving endless chains 78,

one pair for the slideway provided by the side-plates at each side ofthe machine. The

chains 78 are mounted at their rear ends chains are supported at theirforward ends by sprocket-wheels formed upon the drums 76, shown in Figs.3 and 4. The drum 76 mounted adjacent to the extension-plate 75 which issecured to the side-plate 40 is fixed upon a transversely-extendingshaft 79 for its support relative to such extension-plate, while thedrum 7 6 at the opposite-side of the machine is feathered upon saidshaft so as to be rotated thereby, but so as to be adjustablelongitudinally of the shaft as the sideplates 4243 are adjusted fordifferent sized boxes. As will be seen by an inspection of Figs. 1 and2, the shaft 79 has fixed upon one end a sprocket wheel 80 which isconnected by a sprocket-chain 81 with the sprocketwheel 60 which isadapted to be driven at variable speed by the shaft 52 through themedium of the variable gearing of the transmission bOX 59, as abovedescribed. As will be readily understood, the direction of rotation ofthe motor 55 is such as to cause the shaft 52 to be driven in clockwisedirection in Fig. 1, serving to cause such a revolution of the chains 78as to move the dogs 64 forward or to the right in Fig. 2 in the upperslideways.

The means for yieldingly connecting the dogs 64 to the chains 78 so asto cause the dogs to be forwarded by the chains comprises lugs 82extending from the adjacent faces of the chains 78 of each pair ofchains, a plurality of pairs of such lugs being provided along thechains. For cotiperation with the lugs 82 of the chains 78, each of thedogs 64 is provided with spring latch devices 83. As best shown in Fig.10, the latch devices 83, in the construction shown, are made in theform of pins slidably mounted in a transversely-extending opening 84through the dog, a spring 85 being inter posed between the pins 83 forholding thev pins yieldingly in their extended positions. Keys 86 aremounted in the dog working in suitable slots in the pins for limitingthe outward movement of the pins. As best shown in Figs. 7 and 10, thepins or latches 83 are beveled at their outer ends, the lugs 82 be-.

ing similarly beveled as shown in Fig. 7. As wlll be readily understood,when one of the dogs or carrier-blocks 64 is released from engagementwith a box blank at the forward end of the machine, such dog is free topass about the slideway, as above described. As soon thereafter as apair of the lugs 82 carried by the chains 78 is brought into contactwith the latches 83 of such dog as is shown in Fig. 7, the chains 78serve to carry the dog 64-around through the slideway. When the.

dog 64 comes in contact with a cleat or strip 32 or 84 placed inposition between the flanges 63 as above described, the dog 64 serves tomove the cleat or strip forward until the cleat is brought into contactwith the preceding dog 64. The latches 83 then yield inward permittingthe chains 7 8 to continue their revolution, the dog 64 being thereaftercontrolled in its movement by the ad- Vance of the blank irrespective ofthe fastmoving chains 78. As the lugs 82 carried by the chains 78 comein contact with the latches 83 of the various dogs 64 in engagement withthe box blank in process of formation, the latches 83 yield inward so asto permit the chains to pass. By the use of the variable speed mechanismof the transmission box 59, the speed of the chains 78 can be varied soas to cause the dogs 64 to be brought up into position as desired.

The means for intermittently forwarding the box blank into position forthe reception of successive rows of staples 31 comprises two endlesschains 87, one of such chains being mounted between the side plates ateach site of the machine. Each. of these chains is supported at its rearend by a sprocket-wheel 88 mounted upon a short shaft 89 which is adjustably mounted relative to the side plates by means of bearing plates90, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The forward end of the chain 87 mountedbetween the side plates 4041 is supported by a sprocket-wheel 91 fixedupon a shaft 92 which is suitably journaled in the sideplates of themachine. The forward end of the chain 87 which is positioned between theside-plates 4243 is supported by a similar sprocket-wheel 91 which isfeathered upon the shaft 92- to provide for the lateral adjustment ofthe side-plates 42-43 as above described. The chains 87 are thus adaptedto be driven in unison upon the rotation of the shaft 92, as hereinafterdescribed. An inwardly-extending plate 98 formed with the outerside-plate serves to support the upper portion of the chain 87 betweenthe sprocket-wheels 88-91. The dogs 64 are connected with the chains 87for actuation thereby through the medium of pawls 94 which are pivotallymounted in the rear ends of the dogs by means of pivot pins 95. Springs96 are mounted upon the dogs 64 adapted to hold the pawls 94 yieldinglyin contact with the chain 87, the outer face of which is notched, asbest shown in Fig. 8, for the reception of such pawls. Pivotally mountedupon the pin 95 adjacent to the pawl 94 is a second pawl 97 which isadapt ed to be held yieldingly by a spring 98 in contact with the teethof a rack 99 fixed in position above the plate 93, as best shown in T hespring 98 is adapted to act upon W1 9 through the medium of a'pin 100awn ling laterally from the pawl 97, the

'rality of rollers 102.

pin 100 also extending over a portion of the pawl 94'whereby an upwardmovement of the pawl 94 out of operative contact with the chain 87serves to move the pawl 97 simultaneously out of operative contact withthe rack 99. By the use of the rack 99 the dogs 64 are prevented fromslipping backward upon the rebound which occurs upon the release of thedog from the fast-moving chains 78.

As is set forth above, one of the dogs 64 is considerably longer thanthe other three dogs to provide a proper spacing betweensuccessively-formed complete blanks. The long dog 64, as is shown inFigs. 3 and 4, is made up of two sections pivotally connected togetherby means of a link 101 so as to permit the said dog to pass about thedrums 7 876. The rear section of the long dog is provided with thespring-latch mechanism and the pawl mechanism as has been described.

For steadying the cleats 32 -34 as they pass along the slideway underthe staple driving mechanism I have provided a plu- These rollersaremilled on their edges and are revolubly mounted adjacent to theslideways in which the cleats are moved so as to engage the inner facesof the cleats. As the cleats are advanced past the rollers 102 therollers are caused to rotate by their frictional engagement with thecleats. Means is provided for causing all of the rollers 102 to rotatein unison whereby the cleats are very Inaterially steadied in position.The means for supporting the rollers 102 and for causing them to rotatein unison comprises a shaft 103 extending transversely of the ma chineand j ournaled in the side-plates, having bevel gears 104 mountedthereon, the gear .104 adjacent to the side-plate 41 being fixed uponthe shaft 103 and the gear 104 mounted upon the shaft 103 adjacent tothe side-plate 43 being feathered on said shaft. Meshing with the gears104 are other bevel. gears 105 mounted upon shafts 106 suitablysupported below the rollers 102. Each ofthe rollers 102 is mounted upona shaft 107 connected by means of bevel gears 108-109 with the shaft 106(see Fig. 4). The spur-rollers 102 are thus caused to rotate in unison.

The means for forming and driving the staples 31 for securing thebinding wires 30 in position comprises a cross-head 110 slidably mountedin suitable slots 111 in the upper ends of the standards 36-37. Thecross-head 110is reciprocated up and down by means of connecting rods112 connected at their upper ends to said cross-head and operativelyconnected at their lower ends with eccentrics 113 fixed upon the maindrive-shaft 51. The cross-head 110 is thus adapted to be given a.complete inoperative upward stroke and a complete operative downwardstroke upon each rotation of the shaft 51. The cross-head 110 isprovided with a plurality of plungers 114 adjustably mounted upon thecross-head adapted to cooperate with suitable staple-forming and drivingdevices 115 adjustably support- -ed upon the cross-bar 48. For theformation of the blank shown in Fig. 5, there will be five of thesestaple forming and driving mechanisms, together with five of theplungers 11 1, as will be readily understood. The staples 31 are adaptedto be formed by the mechanism out of staple wires 116 which are adaptedto be fed to the staple forming mechanism by the means hereinafterdescribed, there being as many wires 116 as there are binding wires 30,as will be readily understood. It will be appreciated that a staple 31is formed and driven upon each operative downward stroke of thecross-head 110 unless there has been a failure to feed the staple wires116 to the staple forming devices. In case of such a failure to feed thewires 116, the staple forming and driv ing mechanisms pass through theirseveral evolutions without having any effect upon the blank or upon themachine. Inasmuch as the staple forming and driving mechanisms may be ofany approved type it is not believed to be necessary to furtherillustrate or describe them, the only feature in connection with thesedevices which forms a part of my present invention being the means forcontrolling the feed of the staple wires 116, as hereinafter fullydescribed.

The plungers 1141 and the cooperating staple forming and drivingmechanisms 115 are adapted to be adjusted upon the cross-head 110 andthe cross-bar 38 in proper position for placing the binding wires 30 inthe desiredposition upon the boards 3335 of the blank. The outer sets ofmechanisms 114115 are designed to drive staples 31 into the cleats32-34l and are, of course, adjusted relatively to said cleats. For thepurpose of clenching the staples 31 driven by the intermediatecooperating staple mechanisms Her-115, I have provided anvils or shoes117 adjustably mounted upon the cross-bar 39 so as to be adjusted toproper position relative to the staple driving elements. As the width ofthe cleats 32 31 or the thickness of the boards 33-35 are varied fordifferent bones, the cross-bar 39 is adjusted up and down relatively tothe standards 36-437, as above described, so as to bring the point ofdriving the staples 31 to the proper height relative to the mechanisms111115. The rear end of the machine may then be correspondingly adjustedif desired by an adjustment of the standards 45-46.

The means for intermittently forwarding the staple wire 116 (seeespecially Figs. a, 11, 12 and 13) comprises a shaft 118 revolublymounted in suitable brackets 119 extending rearwardly from the standards36-3Z. Revolubly mounted upon the shaft 118 adjacent to the standard 36are two levers 120 121 connected at their forward ends by means of a pin122 with the upper end of a link 1231 The lower end of the link 1233 isin the form of a yoke which straddles the main drive-shaft 51, beingprovided with a stud 12d, preferably in the form of a roller, adapted tobe engaged by a cam 125 fixed upon the shaft 51. A spring 126 connectsthe link 123 with the framework of the machine tending to hold the link123 yieldingly in its lowermost position. A pin 12'? is carried by thelevers 120-121 at their rear ends, having mounted thereon a pawl 128 anda spring 129 serving to hold the pawl yieldingly in its raised operativeposition in engagement with the teeth of a ratchet wheel 130 fixed uponthe shaft 118 between the levers 120121. Revolubly mounted upon theshaft 118 adjacent to the ratchet 130 is a sleeve 131 provided with acam 132 which is adapted to be moved downward, by a counterclockwiseturning of the sleeve 131 in Fig. 13, into engagement with a pin 133projecting from the face of the pawl 128 for throwing the pawl out ofoperative engagement with the ratchet-wheel 130 as hereinafterdescribed. By the use of the devices described, upon each rotation ofthe shaft 51 the link 123 will be moved upward by the cam 125 againstthe action of the spring 126, turning the levers 120121 incounterclockwise direction in Figs. 11 and 13 and causing a similar partrevolution of the shaft 118. It will be understood, however, that if thesleeve 131 were rotated in counterclockwise direction in Fig. 13 so asto cause the pin 133 to ride up the cam 132, the upward movement of thelink 123 and the counterclockwise movement of the levers 120'-121 wouldthen have no effect upon the ratchet 130 and the shaft 118. Extendingrearwardly from the frame portion of each of the staple forming anddriving mechanisms 115 is an arm 1341 as shown in Fig. at, only thebifurcated rear end of such arm being shown in Fig. 12. Feathered uponthe shaft 118 and located between the two arm-portions is a milledroller 135 having connected with it a gear 136, with which meshesanother gear 13? mounted upon a pin 138 extending laterally from the arm134. Fixed so as to rotate with the gear 137 is a milled roller 139adapted to cooperate with the milled roller 135 for forwarding thestaple-wire 116. In order to provide a greater length of wire for thestaples 31 which are driven into the cleats or strips of the box blankthe staple wire forwarding mechanisms which feed the wire to theoutermost staple forming mechanisms employ larger rollers 135 than thoseused in connection with the intermediate staple forming mechanisms, aswill be readily understood.

The means for throwing the staple wire forwarding device out ofoperation during one operative stroke of the cross-head 110 when onecleat 32 or 34 is passing out of position for receiving a staple andbefore the next cleat 34 or 32 is in position to receive a staple,comprises a lever 140 pivotally mounted upon the plate 65 carried by thesideplate. 40 provided with a stud or roller 141 in position to beengaged by the cams 69 of the dogs 64. In Fig. 11 I have indicated indotted lines a dog 64 about to engage the roller 141 for throwing thelever 140 up ward. The forward end of the lever 140 is connected bymeans of a link 142 with an arm 143 extending rearwardly' from the shaft144 mounted in the brackets 119 and extending transversely of themachine. The shaft 144 is provided with a downwardlyextending arm 145fixed thereon adjacent to the bracket 119 mounted upon the standard 36,said arm 145 being connected by a link 146 with an arm 14? mounted uponthe sleeve 131. As will be readily understood, waen a box blankapproaches the position at which the last staple is to be driven intoone of the cleats 32 or 34 the dog 64 between that clcat and thenext-succeeding cleat is brought into contact with the roller 141 whichrides up the cam 69 upon the advance f the dog with the blank. Thisserves to rotate the shaft 144 in clockwise direction in 11, throwingthe arm 14'? in counterclockwise direction in said figure and throwingthe pawl 128 out of operative position, as has been above described,serving to prevent the feeding of the staple wires 116. The position ofthe roller 141 in the path of the dog 54 is such that the throwing outof operation of the pawl 128 is so timed as to cause the crosshead 110and the staple forming and driving apparatus actuated thereby to begiven an operative stroke without a corresponding feeding of the staplewires, with aresult that no staple is driven. Then the long dog (54passes under the roller 141 the pawl 128 is held out of operation duringplurality of operative strokes of thecrosshead 110 for preventing theformation of any staples for the lengths of wire between adjacentblanks. )is soon as the dog 64 passes out of contact with the roller 141the pa its assume their normal position in condition for effectiveoperation.

The means for rotating the shaft 92 in clockwise direction in Fig. 4 forcausing an intermittent movement of the chains 87 com prises aconnecting rod 148 mounted by means of a crank 149 upon the shaft 51eccentrically thereof. A lever 150 (see 1.14 and 15) is fulcrumed upon aslideblock 151 which is mounted upon a pivotally-mounted arm 152 adaptedto be held adjustably in position, as hereinafter described. The block151 is adapted to be adjusted along a longitudinally-extending slot 153in said lever by an adjustment of the pivotally-mounted arm 152, ashereinafter described. A pin 154 connects the upper end of theconnecting rod 148 with the forward end of the lever 150 and with therear end of a pivotally-mounted link 155, the arm 155 serving to permitthe lever 150 to be reciprocated up and down upon the fulcrum-block 151,but to hold it in proper position longitudinally of itself. The rear endof the lever 150 is connected by means of a link 156 with an arm 157which is mounted upon a short rock-shaft 158, with which it is adaptedto be rocked. As is shown in Fig. 16, the short rock-shaft 158 hasmounted upon it and extending upwardly therefrom a rock-arm 159 to theupper end of which is pivotally connected a link 160. The forward end ofthe link 160 is pivotally connected by means of a pin 161 with the upperend of an arm 162 revolubly mounted upon the shaft 92 adjacent to aratchet-wheel 163 feathered upon said shaft. A. pawl 164 is alsopivotally mounted upon the pin 161, whereby upon a stroke of the arm 159in clockwise direction in said Fig. 16 the ratchet-wheel 163 and theshaft 92 will be rotated in the same direction, the extent of therotation of the ratchet 163 and the shaft 92 depending upon the size ofthe angle through which the. arm 159 is rocked. As will be readilyunderstood, upon the rotation of the shaft 51 the connecting rod 148will be reciprocated up and down causing the lever 150 to swing upon thefulcrumblock 151, and causing the arms 157 and 159 to be rocked back andforth with a consequent rotation of the shaft 92. The arrange ment issuch that the shaft 92 will be rotated upon the downward movement of theconnecting rod 148.

As will be readily understood, the distance through which the rear endof the lever 150 is adapted to be moved when actuated by the uniformmovement of the connecting rod 148 depends upon the position of thefulcrum-block 151 between the ends of the lever. As the fulcrum-block151 is moved to the right in Figs. 14 and 15 the extent of the movementof the rear end of the lever 150 upon an actuation of said lever throughthe connecting rod 148 will be increased with a corresponding increasein the extent of rotation of the shaft 92 and similar increase in theextent of movement of the chains 87 and the box blank carried forwardthereby. It is thus apparent that by adjusting the arm 152 the distancebetween staples along the binding wires 61 can be varied as de sired.The means for adjusting the arm 152 for varying the distance betweenstaples comprises a socket member 165 pivotally connected with the upperend of the link 152, a socket member 166 adapted to be fixed relative tothe standard 36, and a rod 167 having screw-threaded connection withsaid two sockets for drawing them together or for moving them away fromeach other, as may be desired. The manner of mounting the socket member166 relative to the standard 36 by which an additional function isperformed will be hereinafter described, but it will be understood thatthe distance between staples can be varied by an adjustment of thescrew-threaded rod 167 quite independently of the additional functionhereinafter described.

As has been set forth above, means is provided for automatically varyingthe stitch so as to have the staples 31 farther apart across the wideside of the box than across the narrower side. This is accomplished by ashifting of the arm 152 and the fulcrumblock 151 upon each change of thebox blank from a position for driving staples in one side to theposition for driving staples in the next-adjacent side. That is to say,as the box blank is moved forward to bring a short cleat into positionto receive a staple the arm 152 is to be automatically moved to the leftin Figs. 14; and 15. When the blank is thereafter moved into position tohave staples driven into one of the longer cleats, the arm 152 is movedto the right in said figures to increase the distance between staples.

The means for accomplishing this result comprises a rotatable plate 168to which the socket 166 is pivotally connected, together with means forrevolving said plate comprising clutch mechanism for stopping therotation of the plate at'the end of each half revolution thereof, thesocket 166 being adapted to be connected to the plate 168 eccentricallythereof whereby a rotation of the plate serves to swing the arm 152. Asbest shown in Fig. 18, the plate 168 is mounted upon a short shaft 169suitably supported by the standard 36. The plate 168 is provided uponone face with a radially-extending slot 170, at any point along whichthe socket 166 is adapted to be revolubly secured by means of a bolt171. Mounted upon the shaft 169 is a gear 172 which meshes with a gear173 which is fixed upon a short shaft 174 revolubly mounted upon thestandard 2-36. ltm'oiubly mounted upon the shaft- 174ladiacent to thegear 173 is a s rocket-wheel 175 which is driven continuously by aspiockctcha in 176 working upon a sprocketwheel 17.7 mounted upon oneend of the sh aft The gear 172 is of just twice the diameter of the gear173, whereby the gear 172 and the plate 168 are adapted to be given ahalf revolution by a single complete revolution of the gear 173.Suitable clutch mechanism is provided forconnecting the gear 17 3 andthe sprocket-wheel 175, such clutch mechanism being adapted to beautomatically thrown out of operation atthe end of one complete rotationof the gear 173. The means for throwing the clutch again into operationfor causing another complete rotation of the gear 173 comprises an arm178 extending upwardly and forwardly from the shaft 1 1 1, havingconnected to its upper end a thrust-bar 17 9 by a downward stroke ofwhich the clutch is thrown into operation for rotating the plate 168.The arrangement will be seen to be such that upon the passage of one ofthe dogs 64 under the roller 141 the link 179 will be, given anoperative downward stroke for causing a half rotation of the plate 168.As will be readily appreciated, by the use of the mechanism justdescribed the stitch across the narrow side of the box may be made asshort as desired relative to the length of stitch along the wide side ofthe box, the socket 166 being adjusted as far as may be desired from thecenter of the plate 168 so as to produce the de sired variation. As adog 64: spacing apart a cieat 32 from a following short cleat 34: passesunder the roller 1 11 the plate 168 will be given a half revolution,swinging the arm 152 to the left into the position shown in Fig. 14: soas to give the arm 159 a snort" rocking motion, as indicated by thearrow in Fig. 16. Then the next-succeeding dog 64 passes under theroller 1-11 bringing a long strip 32 and the corresponding wide board 33into position to receive the staples, the plate 168 will be givenanother half revolution into the position shown in Fig. 15, whereuponthe arm 159 will be given a correspondingly longer stroke for acorrespondingly longer stitch between the rows of staples 31.

The clutch which is actuated by the link or thrust-bar 179 forconnecting the gear 173 with the sprocket wheel 175 comprises aspring-actuated pin 180 carried by the gear 173 adapted to be projectedinto a suitable socket 181 in the sprocket-wheel 175 for causing thegear 173 to rotate with said sprocket-wheel. 1n the construction shown,the pin 180 is provided with a key or pin projecting from one sidethereof adapted to work in a groove 183 in the gear 173 for holding thepin 180 against turning. A spring 1841 is interposed between the pin 182and one end of the groove 183 tending to hold the pin 180 in itsextended operative position. For holding the pin 180 in its retractedposition out of engagement with the socket 181 I have provided a camplate 185 slidably mounted in a bracket 186 suitably mounted upon thestandard 36. The inner end of the cam-plate 185 is adapted to work in acircumferential groove 187 in the gear 173, a spring 188 being providedconnecting the cam-plate 185 .to the bracket 186 tending to hold theplate 185 yieldingly in operative position with its inner end inengagement with a suitable notch in the pin 180 so as to hold the pin180 in its retracted position, as shown in Fig. 21. Pivotally mountedupon the bracket 186 (see Fig. 11) is a bar 189, said bar having also apivotal connection with the plate 185, su'liicient play being providedin the connections of the bar 189 to provide for a slight slidingmovement said plate. As is clearly shown in Fig. 11, the lower notchedend of the link or thrust-bar engages the upper face of the bar 189.

As will be readily understood, upon a downward stroke of the thrust-bar179 actuated by an upward movement of the roller 111 and the lever 1410under the influence of the dog 64 passing under said roller, the link189 is given a slight downward movement on its pivotal mounting, movingthe plate 185 downward. This movement serves to release the pin 180which is then free to be projected by the spring 18& into engagementwith the socket 181 as soon as such socket is brought into properalinement, whereby the gear 173 is caused to rotate. When the thrust-bar179 is drawn upward by reason of the dog 6 1 passing out of positionunder the roller 1&1, the plate 185 is brought again to its operativeposition by the spring 188. Just before the end of a complete revolutionof the gear 173 in clockwise direction in Fig. 19, the notch in the pin180 is brought into engagement with the operative cam face 190 of thecam plate 185 by which the pin 180 is retracted out of engagement withthe socket 181 permit-- ting the gear 17 8 to come to rest.

in order to insure the gear 173 being given only a single revolutionupon each actuation of the thrust-bar 179, whether or not the dog 6 1 iswithdrawn from engagement with the roller 111 during the rotation of thegear 173, l have provided means operative before the end of one completerevolution of the gear 173 to throw the thrustbar 179 out of engagementwith the bar 189 whereby the cam-plate 185 is permitted to return tooperative position irrespective of the position of the thrust-bar 179.This means comprises a earn 191 carried around by the gear 17 8 adaptedto be, brought into engagement with a stud or roller 192 mounted uponthe thrust-bar 179 whereby the said thrust-bar 179 is swung to the leftin Fig. 11 against the action of a spring 198 which tends to hold thesaid thrust-bar at the limit of its movement to the right in said Fig.11. The cam 191 is preferably to be so positioned as to act upon thethrust-bar 179 just before the pin 180 is brought into e11 gagement withthe cam face 190 of the camplate 185, serving to displace the thrustbar179 at the latest available moment be fore the end of the completerevolution of the gear 173. Upon the continued rotation of the gear 173while the pin 180 is being retracted from the socket 181, the cam 191will be rotated out of position engaging the roller 192, as will bereadily understood. In case the thrust-bar 179 has been drawn upward soas to release the bar 189 and the cam-plate 185 from their inoperativeposition before the cam 191 is brought into position to engage theroller 192, the displacement of the bar 179 to the'left in Fig. 11 bythe cam 191 will have no effect upon the mechanism, the bar 179 beingadapted to be brought back by the spring 193 into engagement with thebar 189 upon the passage of the cam 191 out of engagement with theroller 192.

It is believed that the operation of the machine as a whole will befully understood without further detailed description. As will bereadily understood, with an operator holding the foot lever 58 down soas to connect the continuously-driven gear 53 with the main shaft 51,the apparatus will be operated as has been described. An assistant atthe rear end of the machine places the cleats or strips L E-34 in theslideways at both sides of the machine, one strip being placed inposition following each of the dogs 64: as it is brought up by thefast-moving chains 78. The operator places the boards 3335 in positionupon the cleats 323l between the guide rails 68 as the properly spacedcleats 32-84 are intermittently fed forward by the chain 87.. Anotherassistant at the forward end of the machine cuts the binding wires 30between the blanks after a sufficient number of rows of staples 31 havebeen driven into the new blank to hold the binding wires 80 againstslipping relative to the new blank.

As will be readily understood from an inspection of my improved machine,it will be appreciated that the machine is adapted. without anyadjustment whatever to make box blanks of various sizes and proportions.ill that is necessary for forming a blank for a box of one size is tofeed to the machine. box blank materials of the proper proportions. If,after the completion of a box blank of one size, box blank elements fora blank of a different size are fed into the machine without evenstopping the continuous operation of the machine a blank of a differentsize would be formed corresponding to the character of the elementsfedto the machine. As has been above described, it is necessary toadjust the machine for producing blanks for boxes of varying lengths,and it is also sometimes necessary, as before described, to adjust thecross-bar 39 vertically, but for varying the width or depth of boxes noadjustment whatever is necessary or advisable unless it be a change ofspeed of the fast-moving chains by a simple adjustment of the mechanismof they transmission box 59.

\Vhile I have described the chains 78 as being fast-moving chains andthechains 87 as being comparatively slow-moving chains, it will beunderstood that I mean that the chains 78 are fast-moving as compared tothe aggregate effective movement of the chain 87. The movement of thechain 87 being intermittent, the actual speed of movement of the chain87 during the time the chain is moving is immaterial. 'It might well bethat the chains 87 during their movement would move faster than thechains 78. The essential feature is that the chains 78 have during acertain time a sufficiently greater movement than the aggregate movementof the chains 87 during that time that the dogs 6 will be brought toproper position as above described. The terms fast-moving chain andslow-moving chain are used, therefore, in the specification and claimswith reference to the aggregate movement rather than with reference tothe actual speed of movement at any given instant.

lVhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In a boX blank making machine, the combination of a chain,carrier-blocks arranged to be actuated by said chain for moving a blankforward in the process of formation, and a faster-moving chainconstructed and arranged to move said carrierblocks, when released fromengagement with one blank, into operative position for for wardinganother blank.

2. In a boX blank making machine, the combination of an endless chain,means for intermittently driving said chain, carrierblocks arranged tobe actuated by said chain for moving a blank forward in the process offormation, a second endless chain, and means for driving said secondchain at a greater rate of revolution, said second chain beingconstructed and arranged to move said carrier-blocks, when released fromengagement with one blank, into operative position for forwardinganother blank.

3. In a box blank making machine, the combination of positivelyactingmeans comprising carrier-blocks adapted to move a blank forwardintermittently, and other faster-moving means constructed and arrangedto have yielding. connection with said carrier-blocks independently ofthe positively-acting intermittent driving means for moving themsuccessively, when released from engagement with one blank, intooperative position for forwarding the nextsucceeding blank.

4. In a box blank making machine, the combination of positively-actingmeans adapted to move a blank forward, spacingblocks by which the cleatsof the blank are properly spaced relative to each other, and meansadapted to have yielding connection with said spacing blocksindependently of the positively-acting forwarding means for moving themsuccessively, when released from engagement with one blank, intooperative position for spacing the cleats of a succeeding blank.

5. In a box blank making machine, the combination of a chain,carrier-blocks arranged to be positively actuated by said chain formoving a blank forward, and a faster-moving chain constructed andarranged to have yielding connection with said carrier-blocks for movingthem successively, when released from engagement with one blank, intoposition for forwarding another blank.

6. In a boX blank making machine, the combination of a chain,carrier-blocks arranged to be positively actuated by said chain formoving a blank forward, and a second chain normally moving faster thansaid first-named chain constructed and arranged to move saidcarrierblocks successively forward, when released from engagement withone blank, into position for forwarding another blank.

7. In a boX blank making machine, the combination of an endless chain, acarrierblock provided with a pawl arranged to engage said chain wherebysaid chain drives said carrier-block positively forward for forwarding ablank, and a faster-moving endless chain constructed and-arranged to bemoved alongside of said carrier-block in its forward movement with saidfirst-named chain, said second-named chain being provided at one or morepoints therealong with 4 means for yieldingly engaging said carrierblockfor moving said block, after being released from engagement with theblank, again into position to engage said firstnamed chain.

8. In a box blank making machine, the combination of an endlessslideway, a car rier-block adapted to slide therealong, an endless chainconstructed and arranged to have yielding connection with saidcarrierblock for moving said block about said slideway, and a secondendless chain extend ing along a portion of said slideway arranged tomove said carrier-block positively along that portion of the slidewaywhen the yielding connection between said block and said first-namedchain has'become broken.

9. In a box blank making machine, the combination of'an endlessslideway, a carrier-block adapted to slide therealong, an endless chainconstructed and arranged to have yielding connection with saidcarrierblock for moving said block about said slideway, and anintermittently-driven endless chain extending along a portion of saidslide way ananged to move said carrier-block positively along thatportion of the slideway when the yielding connection between saidfirst-named chain and said block has come broken.

10. In a box blank making nil. hine, the combination of an endlessslideway, a carrier-block adapted to slide therealo'ng, an endless chainconstruc ed and arranged to have yielding connection with saidcarrierblock for moving said block about said slideway, and aslower-movingendless chain extending along a portion of said slideway 21ranged to move said carrier-block positively along that portion of theslideway when the yielding connection between said first-named chain andsaid block has become broken.

11. In a box blank making machine, the combination of an endlessslideway, a carrier-block adapted to slide therealong an endless chainconstructed and arranged to have yielding connection with saidcarrierblock for moving said block about said slide Way, and anintermittently-driven endless chain extending along a portion or saidslideway having an effective slower rate of movement than saidfirst-named chain ar-' ranged to move said carrier-block positivelyalong that portion of the slideway when the yielding connection betweensaid first-named chain and said block has become broken.

12. In a box blank making 1 iachine, the combination oi a carrier-block,positivelydriven means constructed and arranged to have yieldingconnection with said carrierblock for moving it forwardpositively-acting means arranged to movesaid block forward when theyielding connection between said block and said first-named forwardingmeans has become broken, and means "for preventing the carrier-block"from rebounding when the yielding connection between the block and saidfirst-named forwarding means is broken.

13. ln a box blank making machine the combination of a carrier-blockprovided with a pawl, positively-driven means arranged to have yieldingconnection with said carrier-block for moving it forward,positively-acting means arranged to move said block forward when theyielding connection between said block and said ton warding means hasbecome broken, and a rack with which the pawl carried by saidcarrier-block is arranged to engage for preventing the carrier-blockfrom rebounding when the yielding connection between the block and saidfirst-named forwarding means is broken.

1%. In a box blank making machine, the combination of an endlessslideway, a carrier-block adapted to slide therealong and provided witha' pawl an endless chain con structed and arranged to have yieldingconnection with said carrier-block for moving said block about saidslideway, a second endless chain extending along a portion of saidslideway arranged to move said carrierblock positively along thatportion of the slideway when the resistance to the forward movement ofthe carrier-block has become so great as to cause its yieldingconnection with the first-named chain to become broken, and a rack withwhich the pawl carried by said carrier-block is arranged to engage forpreventing the carrier-block from rebounding when the yieldingconnection between the block and said first-named chain is broken.

In a box blank making machine, the combination of an endless slideway, acarblOCi'Z adapted to slide therealong, twoss chains one at each side ofsaid slidey arranged to be revolved in unison and ave yieldingconnection with said car- .-,ock for moving said block about said and athird endless chain extenda portion of said slideway arrangm .o moresaid. carrier-block positively along that portion of the slideway whenthe y ldin connection between said block and named chains has becomebroken. 2; blank making machine, the combination oi" a carrier-block, anendless guide therefor, an endless chain extending *aceirf;

50 said guide, and a plurality of connecting devices carried by saidchain at GT'ffiiS thcrealong arranged to yieldingly Q'e saidarrier-block for moving it 3' id gaide.

. box blank making machine, the nbin tion of a carrier-block having aited pin extending therefrom an guide for said block, an endless idingadjacent to said guide, and id chain arranged to engage said pin formoving said block .i guide, one of said engaging members a beveledengaging face whereby.tho conncct in between said chain and said blockis car d pin extending therefrom an endless gui lefor said block, anendless chain extending adjacent to said guide, and a plurality of lugsspaced along said chain, any one e which lugs is arranged to engage sprigseated pin for moving said block along id guide said lugs and saidpinhaving beveleo eng faces whereby the connection between d chain and saidblock is adapted to be bi ken.

l9, lln a box blank making machine the combination of carrienblock, anendless guide therefor, two endless chains one at side of said guide,means for driving said chains in unison and oppositely-disposed lugscarried by said chains adapted to engage said carrier-block for movingsaid block along said guide, the connection bet veeu said chains andsaid block through said lugs being a yielding connection.

20. In a box blank making machine, the combination of a carrier-blockhaving spring-seated pins extending therefrom, an guide for said block,two endless one at oath side of said guide, means for driving saidchains in unison, and oppositely-disposed lugs carried by said chainsadapted to engage said spring-seated pins for moving said block alongsaid guide, said lugs and said pins having beveled engaging faceswhereby the connection between said chains and said blocks is adapted tobe broken.

21. In a box blank making machine, the combination of a carrier-blockhaving spring-seated pins extending therefrom, an endless guide for saidblock, two endless chains one at each side of said guide, means fordriving said chains in unison, oppositely-disposed lugs carried by saidchains adapted to engage saidspring-seated pins for moving said blockalong said guide, said lugs and said pins having beveled engaging faceswhereby the connection between said chains and said block is adapted tobe broken, and means for holding said chains against lateral movementaway from each other.

22. In a box blank making machine, the combinatimi of two side-platesspaced a small distance apart and providing slideways between them, oneat their upper edges and one at their lower edges, means at each end forconnecting the upper and the lower slideways for forming a continuousendless slideway, a carrier-block slidably mounted in said slideway, andan endless chain constructed and arranged to have yielding connectionwith said block for moving it about said slideway.

23. In a box blank making machine, the combination of two side-platesspaced.a small distance apart and providing slideways between them, oneat their upper edges and one at their lower edges, an extension for theouter side-plate at each end thereof provided with flanges approximatelysemicircular in shape, circumferentially grooved drums revolubly mountedon said extensions within said flanges whereby the upper and lowerslideways are connected to form an endless slideway, means for rotatingsaid (bruins, sprocket-chains mounted on sprocketwheels carried by saiddrums on opposite sides of said slideway, a carrier-block pro vided witha pawl slidably mounted in said slideway, and constructed and arrangedto have yielding connection with said chains for movement through saidslideway, a third endless chain mounted between said two side-plates,and means for intermittently driving said third chain, said third chainbeing arranged to positively drive said carrier-block through the mediumof the pawl carried by said block.

24. In a box blank making machine, the combination of two slideways forthe cleats of a blank properly spaced away from each other, means forforwarding the cleats in said slideways in unison, and frictionallyoperated means for steadying the cleats in the slideways for the stapledriving operation, comprising a roller adjacent to each slideway adaptedto contact a cleat forwarded along the slideway, and positivelyactingmeans for causing said two rollers to rotate in unison.

25. In a box blank making machine, the combination of two slideways forthe cleats of a blank properly spaced away from each other, means forforwarding the cleats in said slideways in unison, and means adapted togrip said cleats as they pass the staple driving position forsteadying'them in the slideways, comprising a plurality of rollersadjacent to each slideway adapted to have successive contact with acleat forwarded along the slideway, and positively-acting means forcausing the rollers adjacent to each slideway to rotate in unison.

26. In a box blank making machine, the combination of two slideways forthe cleats of a blank properly spaced away from each other, means forforwarding the cleats in said slideways in unison, a plurality ofrollers adapted to frictionally engage said cleats for holding them inproper position in each slideway as the cleats pass the staple drivingposition, and means acting independently of the frictional engagement ofsaid rollers with said cleats for causing all of said rollers to rotatein unison.

27. In a box blank making machine,-the combination of two slideways forthe cleats of a blank properly spaced away from each other, means forforwarding the cleats in said slideways in unison, rollers adapted tofrictionally engage said cleats for holding them in proper position inthe slideways as they pass the staple driving position, and means forcausing said rollers to rotate in unison.

28. In a box blank making machine, the combination of a chain, means fordriving said chain continuously at a constant speed, carrier-blocksadapted to be actuated by said chain for moving a blank forward intheprocess of formation, a faster-moving chain adapted to move saidcarrier-blocks, when released from engagement with one blank, intooperative position for forwarding another blank, and means for changingthe speed of the faster-moving chain relative'to the speed of thefirst-named chain.

29. In a machine for making wire bound box blanks, the combination ofmeans for forwarding a blank, means'for intermittently advancing astaple wire, means for forming a staple out of the staple wireintermittently fed thereto and for driving such staple into said blankat a certain pre determined staple driving position, spacingblocksbetween each two adjacent cleats of the blanks, cams carried by saidspacingblocks, and means actuated by said cams successively for throwingout of operation said staple wire advancing means as the joints betweenadjacent blank sections successively pass the staple driving position.

30. In a machine for making wire bound box blanks, the combinationofmeans for forwarding a blank comprising carrierblocks adapted to moveforward the cleats of the blank, means for intermittently advancing astaple wire, means for forming a staple out of the staple wireintermittently fed thereto and for driving such staple into said blankat a certain predetermined staple driving position, cams carried by saidcarrier-blocks, and means actuated by said cams successively forthrowing out of operation said staple wire advancing means as the jointsbetween adjacent cleats of said blank successively pass the stapledriving position. 31. In a machine for making wire bound box blanks, thecombination of means for forwarding a blank, a transversely-extendingshaft, staple wire advancing devices mounted on said shaft and operatedby the rotation thereof, pawl and ratchet mecha nism for intermittentlyrotating said shaft, means for forming staples out of the staple wiresintermittently fed thereto and for driving such staples into said blankat a cer tain predetermined staple driving position,

and collar mounted on said shaft adjacent to the ratchet-wheel by whichsaid shaft is rotated and arranged to be rocked into engemeut with saidpawl for throwing the pawl out of operative position, a cam carriedforward with said blank, and means actuated by said cam for rocking saidcollar for holding said pawl out of operative position as a jointbetween adjacent blank sections passes the staple driving position.

In a machine for making wire bound box blanks, the combination of meansfor forvmrding a blank past a predetermined staple drivit-ig position,means for driving staples in said blank in successive positions a theblank is forwarded. a lever pivotally mounted on a movable fulcrum meansfor reciprocating said lever, means for adjusting the position of saidfulcrum relative to said lever for varying the operative stroke of thelever, and operative connections between said lever and saidblank-forwarding means for actuating said blank-forwarding means wherebyan adjustment of the posi ti n of said fulcrum serves to vary the amountof forward movement of said blank between successive staple drivingoperations.

33. In a machine for making wire bound box blanks, the combination ofmeans for forwarding a blank past a predetermined staple drivingposition, means for driving staples in said blank in successivepositions as the blank is forwarded, a lever pivotally mounted on amovable fulcrum, means connected with one end of said lever forreciprocating the lever, means for adjusting the position of saidfulcrum relative to the lever for varying the operative stroke of thelever, and operative connections between the other end of said lever andsaid blank-forwarding means for actuating said blank-forwarding means.

341. In a machine for making wire bound box blanks, the combination ofmeans for forwarding a blank past a predetermined staple drivingposition, means for driving staples in said blank in successivepositions as the blank is forwarded, pivotallymounted arm, afulcrum-block revolubly mounted on said arm, a lever slidably mounted onsaid fulcrum-block, means for reciproeating said lever, means foradjusting the position of said arm relative to said lever for varyingthe operative stroke of the lever, and operative connections betweensaid lever and. said blank-forwarding means for actuating said blankforwarding means whereby an adjustment of said arm relative to saidlever serves to vary the amount of forward movement of said blankbetween successive staple driving operations.

35. In a machine for making wire bound box blanks, the combination ofmeans for forwarding a blank past a predetermined staple drivingposition, means for driving staples in said blank in successivepositions as the blank is forwarded, a pivotallymounted arm, afulcrum-block revolubly mounted on said arm, a lever having alongitudinally-extending slot in which said fulcrum-block is slidablymounted, a link connected with said lever and adapted to swing relativethereto for permitting the lever to be reciprocated on its fulcrum butadapted to limit the longitudinal movement of the lever, means forreciprocating said lever, means for adjusting the position of said armrelative to said lever for varying the operative stroke of the lever,and operative connections between said lever and said blankforwardingmeans for actuating said blankforwarding means whereby an adjustment ofsaid arm relative to said lever serves to vary the amount of forwardmovement of said blank between successive stapledriving operations. i

36. In a machinefor making wire bound box blankathe combination of meansfor forwarding a blank past a predetermined staple driving position,means for driving staples in said b ank in successive posit ons as theblank is forwarded, a lever pivotally mounted on a movable fulcrum, anarm by an adjustment of which the position of the fulcrum of said loveris controlled, means connected with one end of said lever for reciprocating the lever, an adjusting rod adapted to be held in fixedposition relative to said lever and having screw-threaded connectionwith said arm for adjusting the po sition of said arm relative to saidlever whereby the operative stroke of said lever may be varied, andoperative connections between the other end of said lever and saidblank-forwarding means for actuating said blank-forwarding means.

37. In a machine for making wire bound box blanks, the combination ofmeans for forwarding a blank past a predetermined staple drivingposition, means for driving staples in said blank in successivepositions as the blank is forwarded, said blank forwarding meanscomprising an arm by successive strokes of which in opposite directionsthe extent of movement of the blank between successive operations of thestapledriving means is varied, and means automatically actuated atintervals during the forward movement of the blank for swing ing saidarm.

38. In a machine for making wire bound box blanks, the combinationof'means for forwarding a blank past a predetermined staple drivingposition, means for driving staples in said blank in successivepositions as the blank is forwarded, said blank forwarding meanscomprising a rotary member by successive half rotations of which theextent of movement of the blank between successive operations of thestaple driving means is varied, and means for giving said rotary membersuccessive half rotations as desired for varying the movement of theblank between stitches.

39. In a machine for making wire bound box blanks, the combination ofmeans for forwarding a blank past a predetermined staple drivingposition, means for driving staples in said blank in successivepositions as the blank is forwarded, said blank forwarding meanscomprising a rotary member by successive half rotations of which theextent of movement of the blank between successive operations of thestaple driving means is varied, means for adjusting the differencebetween successive forward movements of the blank, and means for givingsaid rotary member successive half rotations as desired for varying themovement of the blank between stitches.

40. In a machine for making wire bound box blanks, the combination ofmeans for forwarding a blank past a predetermined staple drivingposition, means for driving staples in said blank in successivepositions as the blank is forwarded, said blank forwarding meanscomprising, an arm by successive strokes of which in opposite directionsthe extent of movement of the blank between successive operations of thestaple-driving means is varied, a rotary member by successive partialrevolutions of which said arm is actuated, and means automaticallyactuated at intervals d ring the forward movement of the blank forgiving said rotary member successive operative partial revolutions.

41. In a machine for making wire bound box blanks, the combination ofmeans for forwarding a blank past a predetermined staple drivingposition, means for driving staples in said blank in successivepositions as the blank is forwarded, said blank forwarding meanscomprising a rotary member by successive half rotations of which thees:- tent of movement of the blank between successive operations of thestaple driving means is varied, a clutch by successive actuations ofwhich said rotary member is given successive half rotations, and meansautomatically actuated at intervals during the forward movement of theblank for throwing said clutch into operation.

42. In a machine for making wire bound box blanks, the combination ofmeans for forwarding a blank past a predetermined staple drivingposition, means for driving;- staples in said blank in successivepositions as the blank is forwarded said blank forwardingmeanscomprising an arm by successive strokes of which in opposite directionsthe extent of movement of the blank between successive operations of thestapledriving means is varied, a rotary member by successive partialrevolutions of which said arm is actuated, a clutch by successiveactuations of which said rotary member is given successive operativepartial revolutions, and means automaticall actuated at intervals duringthe forward movement of the blank for throwing said clutch intooperation.

43. In a machine for making wire bound box blanks, the combination ofmeans for forwarding a blank past a predetermined staple drivingposition, means for driving: staples in said blank in successivepositions as the blank is forwarded, said blank forwarding meanscomprising an arm by succes sive strokes of which. in oppositedirections the extent of movement of the blank between successiveoperations of the -ttPlG-flFlVl1lfj means is varied, a rotary member bysucc sive partial revolutions of which said arm is actuated, and aclutch by successive actuations of'which said rotary member is givensuccessive operative partial revolutions, and a lever actuated atintervals in timed relation to the forward movement of the blank adaptedto throw said clutch into operation for operating said arm for varyingthe forward movement of the blank between stitches.

